Colin Beckett

British Warrant Officer Class 2 Colin Beckett, age 36, Company Sergeant Major of the 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, died in the Nad-e Ali District of Helmand Province, Afghanistan, when a home-made explosive device went off on February 5, 2011.

He was deployed on an operation to protect a village from Taliban insurgents when the device blew up.

His widow, Rachel Beckett, who is expecting their first child later this month – a little girl already named Freya – led tributes to the dedicated soldier, who was known in the Army as Tom.

She said: “Anyone whoever met or knew Colin ‘Tom’ would have been touched by him in a big way and he will never be forgotten. He was a fantastic soldier, a great son, a good brother and friend and a truly special husband. My bestest friend, my soul mate, my absolute world."

Company Sergeant Major Beckett, who was due home in a couple of weeks, also leaves his parents Del and Kim. He joined the Paras in 1990 where he demonstrated a natural talent in the Anti-Tank Cadre. He continued to develop his specialism, leading anti-tank soldiers at nearly every rank. His leadership skills were quickly identified and he moved up the ranks as he was deployed to Northern Ireland and Kosovo. He served as an Anti-Tank Section Commander in Iraq in 2003 but was promoted before his first tour of Afghanistan in 2006 to Platoon Sergeant. In 2009 he was made a Warrant Officer Class 2 and the Company Sergeant Major in the vital build up to his posting to Helmand in October 2010.

Let us pray to God the Father, Jesus, all of the saints and all of the angels that Colin Beckett is in heaven. Let us pray that he is at peace and is with God. Amen